Joan M. Briggs Clark

AYER: Joan M. (Attridge) Briggs Clark, 83, of Ayer, formerly of Pepperell and Lunenburg passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Monday, October 24, 2022 at Nashoba Valley Medical Center, Ayer. Joan was born in Nashua, NH, September 01, 1939, the only child of John F. and Margaret (Lynch) Attridge. She was raised in Pepperell by her parents alongside a large, Irish Catholic family consisting of many aunts, uncles, and cousins whom she held very dear to her heart. Her love of family resonated throughout her being. Joan was a 1957 graduate of Notre Dame Academy in Tyngsboro and began her working career when she was just 13 years old, scooping ice cream at her father’s iconic “Doc Davis Ice Cream Stand”, in Pepperell. Later in life, being a devoted mother, she held several jobs to support her children whom meant everything to her, which included the secretary to the director of Pepperell Water Department, a school bus driver for the North Middlesex Regional School District, a waitressing position at Riverside Restaurant in Brookline, NH and most recently as the cafeteria manager at NEC Enterprise in Boxborough. A true “sports mom”, Joan never missed her children’s sporting events that continued beyond and throughout her grandchildren’s games. She was not only present at the games but was the loudest cheerleader on the sidelines. Joan was a former member and President of North Middlesex Regional High School Booster Club, and also an avid fan of the Boston Sport Teams. Joan enjoyed bowling and participated in leagues in Nashua, NH and Harvard. She had a love for the beach, especially Goose Rocks Beach in Kennebunkport, Maine and Hampton Beach where her parents owed a B&B and the beautiful beaches in Florida where she enjoyed winters in Sarasota with her loving husband, Murray. Joan was a parishioner at St Anthony’s of Padua Church in Shirley and was a person of strong faith. She leaves her husband, Murray W. Clark, Jr.; three sons, Robert A. Briggs Jr. and his wife Cory, of Fitchburg, Donald L. Briggs of Lunenburg, Randall F. Briggs and his wife Catherine of Foxborough, and her daughter Lyn M. Spencer of Ayer; two stepsons, Jeffrey M. Clark and his wife Martha of Mansfield, Alan R. Clark and his wife Cherae of Saunderstown, RI; two step daughters, Virginia A. Santamaria and her husband John of Savannah, GA, Kristin C. Reardon and her husband Eric of Chelmsford; 16 grandchildren; Beth Wallace, Jonathan Briggs, Nicole Hobart, Sarah Hayes, Garrett Briggs, Andrew Briggs, Adam Spencer Ryan Spencer, Timothy McDonough, Kelly McDonough, Cassidy Steinbrecher, Bradley Clark, Amanda Clark, Brooke Reardon, Brendan Clark, Senna Clark, and 12 great-granchildren; Luca Wallace, Cale Briggs, Hunter Briggs, Axel Briggs, Madison Hobart, Allie Hobart, Kendall Hayes, Benjamin Hayes, Samuel Hayes, Zita, Khai and Lucian Spencer. A funeral mass will be celebrated at 10 AM Saturday, October 29, 2022 at St Anthony’s of Padua Church, 14 Phoenix Street, Shirley. Interment will be in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Pepperell. Joan’s family will receive relatives and friends at calling hours 4PM-7PM Friday, October 28, 2022 at the Anderson Funeral Home, 25 Fitchburg Road (Rte. 2A) Ayer. For additional information or to leave an online condolence, please visit their website at www.andersonfuneral.com . In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to St. Anthony’s of Padua, 31 Shirley Street Ayer, MA 01432 or NAMI North Central Mass Inc., PO Box 442, Fitchburg, MA 01420-0442.

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Joan M. Briggs Clark

September 1, 1939 - October 24, 2022